According to Galilee Development Company (GDC) estimates, the Israeli apple harvest will reach 100,000 tons this year. The harvest has so far been successful in both quantity and quality.
In the previous winter, Israel experienced extremely high levels of rainfall and the temperatures were relatively low, both of which were contributing factors to the successful harvest this summer. The announcement came ahead of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, when Jews have a custom of dipping apples in honey to signify the sweet new year ahead. Apple sales typically spike before the holiday.
According to Israel’s Plant Council, the area allocated for apple farming in Israel totals at approximately 7,400 acres. Ninety five percent of the area is located in the Golan Heights and the mountains of the Galilee, where the high altitude and cold climate guarantee the high quality of the fruit.
In addition to domestic production, apple imports range from 20,000 to 25,000 tons per year, with most of the imported apples brought from Europe and the US, in accordance with trade agreements. Domestic consumption of apples is approximately 16-20 kilograms of apples per capita annually.
Source: jewishpress.com
